Oh say can you sing?

'The Star-Bangled Banner' became our national anthem in 1931

8:51 AM,
Mar. 3, 2014

On Jan. 8, Vincent Vaise, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine unfurled a replica of of the 30x42 foot flag during ceremony at the Hermitage to commemorate Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

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On Tuesday, March 3, 1931, the United States officially got its national anthem.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" combines the lyrics of a poem written by Francis Scott Key called "Defence of Fort McHenry" about his observations of the bombardment of that fort by British warships on Sept. 7, 1814. President James Madison had sent Key to negotiate the release of prisoners, during the negotiations Key became privy to details of the planned attack on Baltimore, and he was held until Sept. 16.

The fierce naval bombardment of Fort McHenry was awe inspiring to Key as he watched rockets and canon pummel ...